Employee spotlight: Imad Badawi

What makes 84.51˚ an intriguing company? Is it the flexible hybrid work options, the free food regularly found around the office or the challenging problems that we tackle? While these aspects are undoubtedly great, it’s the people that make working here truly special. Check out our Employee Spotlight series to learn more about who we are and the unique traits of our teammates. 

Hometown:  Cincinnati, Ohio Office Location:  Cincinnati, Ohio  Start Date:  June 2022  Job title:  Senior Software Engineer

Describe your role.

I develop web app components for KAP (Kroger Ad Platform), offering dynamic solutions to support the continuous evolution of KAP Campaigns. Additionally, I am responsible for maintaining the technological stack.  

How long have you worked in software engineering and what inspired you to pursue this field?

I have been a software engineer since 2022. When I was a junior in high school in Amman, Jordan, I learned that machines communicate in ones and zeroes and that ignited a storm of curiosity that has not settled yet. Writing basic Java Script code & HTML tags in a textbook (we did not have the luxury of seeing, let alone using, a computer) and visualizing how a computer would read and interact with those symbols was a life-changing experience that made me discover my love for developing. 

What interested you in joining 84.51°? 

Back in the pandemic year of 2020, I was a young college student stuck working in a cell phone store while attending college remotely. I was seeking internships and participated in University of Cincinnati’s virtual career fair where 84.51° had a virtual booth. I visited the booth, read about the company, and was extremely interested so I dropped a message and my resume hoping to land an interview. A recruiter reached out to me where I had my initial interview, and the rest is history. 

What has been the most memorable experience or favorite project you’ve worked on?

Reflecting on my noticeably young career at 84.51°, my favorite project that I have and still continuously work on is KAP. I had just joined my current team and maintaining 84.51° Prism was all we had to do until Project KAP initially kicked off and my team had a big part of it. I knew it was a terrific opportunity for me to get a head start on this new project and be an integral part of it as a newbie. Currently, my team owns Products, Taxonomies, Divisions and Bid Management. Those data assets are the founding pillars of campaigns.  

What’s your favorite part about working at 84.51°? Do you have a favorite benefit or perk that is offered?

The people. I have not seen/worked in a company that has this many wonderful people. The work environment is exceptional, with everyone contributing to making other coworkers' lives easier. Knowledge sharing and learning time is a huge benefit 84.51° offers for its employees to keep growing and to stay up to date with the current technological meta.  

What advice would you give to those who are considering working in this field?

For a dynamic and continuously evolving field such as Software Engineering, you must be versatile, engaging, and open minded to changes. What you learn today will be different in the future. If you enjoy developing web applications using the latest technologies with the support of business leading engineers, this is the place to be.  

What do you like to do in your free time outside of work hours?

Since I spend most of my work hours in front of a screen, I love to spend my off hours in front of the sun. I enjoy trails, bicycle rides and swimming. I go for long walks and sprints then end the day with a quick dip in the local swimming pool to cool off and relax. I also enjoy cooking meals and eventually end up behind a screen at the end of the day to play video games if time allows.